I am doing my PGCE AMA

[Brightburn]

I'm currently doing my teacher training via school direct... Ask me anything!

I'm also a Mum to a 2yo DD!

What subject / age are you training to teach?

I did a secondary PGCE nearly 30 years ago, so we could compare notes!

I did mine 20 years ago good luck!!

We just need someone who did it 10 years ago and we could do a nice sequence: teaching in the 90s, teaching in the 00s, teaching in the teens...

I did mine 10 years ago

Got paid to do it and extra money due to low income family status

Do students pay now?

I got a grant and a bonus payment (something like £2000) for a shortage subject (Maths).

How does school direct work? Do you get paid whilst you train - is it enough to live on?

I’m looking to do secondary PE in a few years!

I'm doing primary and I don't get paid, luckily student finance covers the £9k tuition fee!

They scrapped the primary bursaries last year There are bursaries for certain subjects such as physics (almost £30k)!

School direct means I'm based in a school most of the time. I have a home school and a class. I go for training days in other schools throughout the year and only have about 10 days in university. I've been to an alternative key stage in a different school for 6/7 weeks before Easter before returning to my home school.

Throughout the year there are block weeks known as 'teaching practice'. During TPs we're expected to be teaching different amounts throughout the year.

TP1 - 30% Teaching
TP2 - 60% Teaching
TP3 - 80% Teaching

Are you enjoying it?

There are times when I love it and times when I hate it. I've come close to quitting a few times. The amount of paperwork is ridiculous and far more necessary!

I'll be interested to read what you have to say, my son starts his PGCE via SCITT programme.

I'm placemarking and hope you get lots of interesting questions, I have considered a PGCE but always let life get in the way.

Is the job what you expected, so far? Also, do you feel well supported by your school?

It's a lot harder than expected. I love my home school and my mentor, she's fab. My second placement was not so supportive and I came close to quitting.

I do feel my mentor and myself should have had some sort of induction together regarding all the paperwork and how to organise/fill it all in.

How are you paying rebt/bills etc if only your fees are covered and you aren't being paid? I would love to do it but just can't afford to!

I admire anyone going in now with an awareness of what teaching has become! Did anyone try and put you off?

My husband is a teacher (M3) and student finance helps us get by.

No one has tried to put me off per se but many different staff have told me how hard it has become and how they wish they could leave. It's very disheartening. My DH has only been teaching 3 years and doesn't see himself staying in the profession.

Are you insane?

How many hours out of the classroom are you working per week? How have you found the actual teaching and class management?

How have you got time to Mumsnet? My DD still refers to the year she's did her PGCE as her lost year as she did nothing but sleep, eat and study!